News and Updates

Speak Up…for your child

It’s that time of year, where we find ourselves deep in the alphabet soup of the special education world. IEPs, 504s, referrals and assessments; wherever you are in the journey, these quick tips can help you thrive, not just survive, back to school meetings.

10 Tips for Advocating for Your Child

Adapted and revised from http://www.cbc.ca/parents/learning/view/10-things-to-remember-when-advocating-for-your-special-needs-child

1. You Know Your Child Best

Regardless of what the reports say or what the professionals say, you are the parent that has been by your child’s side since day one.

2. Collaborate!

The Professionals, Teachers, And Support Staff Truly Want to Help Your Child truly do have your child’s best interests at heart. They really do want to help your child. Remind yourself that they are there to work together with you, they aren’t your enemy.

3. Speak Up For Your Child If They Are Unable

This tip is especially important if your child is nonverbal and/or unable to effectively communicate their needs. Since you know your child best, it is important for you to relay the information that is going to truly help your child thrive, grow, and develop.

4. Focus on Your Child’s Strengths

Oftentimes, meetings and reports focus on the negatives: The things your child really struggles with, or cannot do. Pairing weaknesses with a strength or at least rephrase those weaknesses to be more positive sounding.

5. Keep Communication Open between Yourself, Your Child, and Your Child’s Support Team

Talk directly with the teachers or professionals and voice your concerns.

6. Embrace Your Child’s Uniqueness

Makes your child unique and what you love most about your child can help you ask for the supports and accommodations that your child needs.

7. Use Your Child’s Interests to Your Advantage

Keep your child’s interests in mind even when you are working together with the school to create an education plan for your child.

8. Advocating is Hard Work and Tiring

From signing papers to meetings and phone calls, advocating for your child is hard and exhausting; it’s ok to acknowledge it!

9. Educate, Educate, Educate!

Read, research, study and connect with other people with the same or similar diagnosis and lean on other parents to get support and help. The best way to advocate for your child is to educate yourself and those around you.

10. Don’t Lose Yourself in the Advocacy Process

Self-care is something most mothers struggle with, especially special needs mothers. But if you don’t take time to take care of yourself, you will burn yourself out. Make yourself a priority too. Take a break when you need it. You’ll become a better advocate and parent if you do.

Family Connection SC makes every effort to ensure that our website is 508 compliant, as well as useable by anyone who visits us. If for any reason you are having difficulty accessing any of our resources please call us at 1-800-578-8750 or email us. Compliance is an ongoing process we appreciate you notifying us if any of our resources or information is not accessible.

The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, #H328M150056. The contents may not represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and are not endorsed by the Federal Government. Project Officer, Julia Martin Eile.

The SC Family Voices Affiliate Organization, working to achieve family-centered care for all children and youth with special health care needs or disabilities. Through this national network, Family Voices provides families tools to make informed decisions, advocates for improved public and private policies, builds partnerships among professionals and families and serves as a trusted resource on health care.

A member of Parent-to-Parent USA (P2P USA), ensuring best practices in parent-to-parent support.